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Powderhall Stadium

Coordinates: 55°58′02″N 3°11′38″W / 55.9672°N 3.1938°W / 55.9672; -3.1938
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Powderhall Stadium (1927-1995)
Speedway at Powderhall in 1982.
Powderhall Stadium (1927-1995) is located in the City of Edinburgh council area
Powderhall Stadium (1927-1995)
Powderhall Stadium (1927-1995)
Location within the City of Edinburgh council area
Former namesPowderhall Grounds (1870-1927)
LocationNorth Edinburgh
Coordinates55°58′00″N 3°11′37″W / 55.96667°N 3.19361°W / 55.96667; -3.19361
Construction
Built1869
Opened1870
Renovated1970 & 1987
Expanded1927 greyhounds
Closed1995

Powderhall Stadium, formerly the Powderhall Grounds, was a multi-sports facility overlooking the Water of Leith on Beaverhall Road, in the Powderhall (Broughton) area of northern Edinburgh, Scotland. It opened in January 1870 at the height of professional pedestrianism and was modelled on the stadium at Stamford Bridge in London. It hosted professional sprint races, track and field athletics, including the Scottish Amateur Athletics Championships on a number of occasions, professional football, international rugby, cycling, and dog races as well as boxing, quoits and pigeon shooting. For 100 years it hosted the Powderhall Sprint, the most famous professional sprint handicap in the world. With the decline of pedestrianism as a spectator sport in the 1920s it was converted to a greyhound stadium, hosting the Scottish Grand National for over sixty five years, and it also hosted professional speedway. The stadium finally closed in 1995 and the site is now a housing estate.

Origins

[edit]

In 1695, James Balfour, the Laird of Pilrig, obtained a charter from King William III that gave him the exclusive right to manufacture gunpowder in Scotland. This required the construction of a factory, known as a powder-mill, which was built to the north of the city of Edinburgh on the shore of the Water of Leith, a small tributary of the Firth of Forth. James Balfour had sixteen children, and one of his sons, also James Balfour, was grandfather to the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson.[1]

In 1742, Thomas Mylne, the Surveyor of the City of Edinburgh, built a house with gardens on eight acres of land near this powder-mill, just over one mile west of James Balfour's Pilrig House, which he named Powder Hall. This in turn lent its name to that part of the city, and when, in due course, some running grounds were built there they took their name, as was the custom, from their location, and thus they were called the Powderhall Grounds.[1]

In the summer of 1869 a syndicate was formed for the purpose of constructing an athletic grounds in Edinburgh to rival those in London. The syndicate consisted of W. M. Lightbody, and four members of the Bauchope family from Leith, led by Charles R. Bauchope, an amateur sprinter of some repute who claimed to have set a Scottish grass-track record of 10 1/5 for 100 yards. It is certain that at the inaugural Edinburgh University freshman sports in 1866 he won the shot put and pole vault. The other members of the syndicate were R. G. Bauchope, and W. Bauchope, both prominent businessmen in the city, and John Bauchope, a school teacher. It is thought that Lightbody was the principal financial investor in the scheme.[1]

An Edinburgh firm of builders, W. & D. McGregor, had purchased a plot of land that had previously formed part of Thomas Mylne's Powderhall estate, and the syndicate took out a five-year lease on this piece of land where they laid out their running grounds, about one mile to the west of Pilrig House and right on the Water of Leith. The senior Bauchope and Mr Lightbody toured the running grounds of England and Scotland and decided to base their design on the famous grounds at Stamford Bridge in London. The Powderhall Grounds therefore had a cinder track of 440 yards with a sprint straight of 180 yards on the southern side, and a roofed grandstand for 1400 spectators. Much of the materials for this they purchased from the recently defunct Newington grounds at Powburn Toll for the sum of one hundred pounds.[1]

The first meet, called the New Year Pedestrian Gala, was held over three days in January 1870 with three events, a 1-mile handicap won off the scratch mark by John Ridley of Gateshead in the very good time of 4:25. An 880 yards handicap won by J. Watt of Glasgow, and the event that would come to be called the Powderhall Sprint was initiated at 160 yards, the inaugural champion being Dan Wight of Jedburgh, barely nineteen years of age and running off 12 yards.[1] On the day there was no particular reason to suppose that it was anything special, it was just one of a number of professional sprint handicaps held at various distances at a number of different venues that year, and the first edition was just called the 160 yards handicap. It subsequently went by a number of names but mostly it was referred to as either the New Year Sprint Handicap or the Powderhall Sprint. The event was held at Powderhall every New Year (with minor exceptions for wars and such) for the next one hundred years, becoming one of the most famous professional sprint races in the world. The only other serious contender for that crown being the Stawell Gift, held each Easter at Stawell, Victoria, Australia, since 1878. The Powderhall Sprint moved to Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium in 1971 and under its new name of the New Year Sprint it continues today at Musselburgh Racecourse.[1]

Edinburgh University Athletic Club started training at Powderhall from as early as March 1871, and in February 1872 held their Spring Athletic Games there.[2][3]

William M. Lapsley was a keen amateur sportsman from Edinburgh. He was a founding member of St Bernard's F.C., and played as goalkeeper for Hanover F.C., he was a cyclist, and an athlete. At a meeting held by Edinburgh Athletic Club in July 1872 he won the 880 yards handicap, finished third in the 150 yards and was also third in the hammer with a throw of 91 ft 2in (27.80m). He also won the 880 yards at the Piershill Garrison Sports in 1872. In July 1879, Lapsley took a share in the lease for the Royal Patent Gymnasium Ground in Royal Crescent Park, Edinburgh. By draining the adjoining Boyton's Pond he added to the existing football ground an 880 feet circular running path (6 laps to the mile) and a sprint track of 125 yards. There was also a grandstand, similar to but smaller than, that at Powderhall. This had its opening on 19 July 1879 and was obviously in direct competition with the Powderhall Grounds. However, in July 1880 the Bauchope syndicate at the Powderhall Grounds dissolved their company and the grounds were briefly taken over by two gentlemen named Lauder and Hughes, but by January 1883 William Lapsley had taken over the lease for the Powderhall Grounds.[1]

The Scottish AAA was formed in 1883 and held their first championship meeting at the Powderhall Grounds in June of that year. The championships were subsequently held at Powderhall many times, including in 1884, 1886, 1888 and 1910. At the 1890 Scottish Championships at Powderhall, Kenneth Whitton (Edinburgh Harriers) set a Scottish Native and All-comers hammer record of 103 ft 0in (31.40m), beating his own record set at the 1885 championships at Paisley.[4] Athletics continued to be held at Powderhall for the next one hundred years with competition transferring to Meadowbank Stadium in 1971.[5][6][7][8]

Change of venue

[edit]

In October 1888 the Lord Provost's Committee submitted a report to Edinburgh Town Council recommending that "the ground at Powderhall belonging to the city be taken over from the present tenant and converted into a Public Park from Whitsunday next." William Lapsley, the chief tenant and owner of the Powderhall Grounds, negotiated a three-month extension and the last races run on the original Powderhall Grounds took place on Saturday 25 May 1889, at what had come to be known as the Queen's Birthday meeting. W. Grant of Edinburgh won a 130-yard handicap off 17 yards in 12 1/2 seconds, W. Balmer of Edinburgh won a 300-yard handicap off 37 yards in 30 1/2 seconds, and John D. Henderson of Edinburgh won a 1-mile handicap off 135 yards in 4:19 1/2.

On Wednesday 29 August 1889 Lapsley was granted a warrant at the Dean of Guild Court in Edinburgh authorising him to proceed with the layout of a new running ground at Beaverhall Road, practically adjoining the land recently vacated, and to construct on them two grandstands and changing rooms. The first promotion on these new grounds, called New Powderhall, was the New Year Handicap of 1890 at which J. Jackson of Hawick won the New Year Sprint off 10 yards in 12 3/5 seconds.[1]

William Lapsley died on 28 February 1903 as a result of an accident in a horse drawn cab on his way to a rugby union international between Scotland and Ireland. The driver of the cab lost control of it on a steep hill and the horse bolted and crashed into the basement of a nearby house. Lapsley died at the scene and his wife, though seriously injured, survived. The lease of the Powderhall Grounds was due to expire in May of that year and the trustees appointed to conduct business after his death failed to renew the lease and the grounds were taken over by Mr Frederick Arthur Lumley, a maker of gymnastic apparatus and a boxing instructor. The first meet under this new management was on Wednesday 13 May 1903 when L. Richards of Lanark won a 130 yards handicap off 13 yards in 12 1/5 seconds, and D. Todd of Edinburgh won a 1-mile handicap off 145 yards in 4:21.[1]

After winning the 100 yards at the Edinburgh University sports in May 1921, the Olympian Eric Liddell, portrayed in the film Chariots of Fire, started training at Powderhall under the care of Tommy McKerchar, a printer by trade who coached professional pedestrians on the side. But McKerchar coached Liddell three times a week for free.[9][10]

Over the next few years professional pedestrianism gradually waned in importance, from regular meets at dozens of grounds around the country there were now apart from Powderhall just those at Blackpool, Morpeth, Cardiff, Pontypridd and Newcastle keeping the sport alive. But decline is a relative term as at the 1907 New Year Handicap 24,000 spectators turned out despite rain having fallen for several hours before the meet commenced. That was the last time that Alexander McKenzie, a paper ruler by profession, acted as starter at Powderhall Grounds, having started there in 1879. His successor as starter was James Lynch who officated in that capacity until his death in May 1930. In 1920 his son Chris Lynch became the official handicapper at Powderhall.[1]

In June 1904 the Caledonian Whippet Racing Club held a 160 yards handicap, and the following June they held dog races, without any restriction as to breed of dog, for the first time in over twenty years. From this time a series of these promotions were held at regular intervals throughout the season, and as professional sprinting declined these other events gradually assumed a greater importance in the sporting calendar. In 1926 it was observed that there were more bookkeepers at a greyhound racing evening than there were spectators at a pedestrian meeting and the end was clearly in sight. The circular cinder running path was turfed over, a new sprint straight was laid down to serve the needs of the pedestrians at their annual New Year festival, and New Powderhall was converted into a greyhound racing stadium with the first event under the auspices of the Greyhound Racing Association, held on Wednesday 3 August 1927. In 1923 Fred Lumley had exercised his option to purchase the grounds outright, and in 1930 The Greyhound Racing Association Trust purchased the Powderhall Stadium, as it was now called, from Lumley.[1]

Scottish athletics records

[edit]
Scottish athletics records set at Powderhall
Event time/dist Athlete (club) Meet Date Record
100 yards 10 sec James Cowie (London AC) Scottish Championship 28 June 1884 SN/AC
100 yards 10 sec Robin Murdoch (Glasgow Un.) Scotland vs Ireland 16 July 1932 SN
220 yards 22 4/5 Alfred Downer (Edinburgh H.) St Bernard's FC Sports 6 July 1893 SN/AC
220 yards 22 2/5 Alfred Downer (Edinburgh Un.) Edinburgh University Sports 15 July 1895 AC
440 yards 51 1/5 James Cowie (London AC) Scottish Championship 28 June 1884 SN/AC
880 yards 2:00 3/4 Thomas Moffat (Canada) Scottish Championship 23 June 1883 AC
880 yards 1:57 3/5 Alfred Tysoe (Skerton H.) St Bernard's FC Sports 9 July 1898 AC
880 yards 1:59 2/5 Hugh Welsh (Watson's College) Edinburgh Harriers 10 June 1899 SN
880 yards 1:59.0 Jack Paterson (Watsonians) Edinburgh Harriers 9 June 1900 SN
880 yards 1:47.8 Charles Mein (Edinburgh H.) Edinburgh Southern Harriers 20 June 1925 SN
1000 yards 2:17 Fred Bacon (Ashton-under-Lyme H.) Edinburgh Harriers 24 July 1895 AC
1 mile 4:32 1/5 David S. Duncan (Edinburgh H.) St Bernard's FC Sports 17 July 1886 AC
1 mile 4:28 David S. Duncan (Edinburgh H.) Edinburgh Harriers 13 September 1888 SN/AC
1 mile 4:18 1/5 Fred Bacon (Ashton-under-Lyme H.) Edinburgh Northern Harriers 21 July 1894 AC
1 mile 4:23 3/4 Hugh Welsh (Watson's College) Watson's College Sports 28 May 1898 SN
2 miles 9:27 2/5 Fred Bacon (Ashton-under-Lyme H.) Edinburgh Northern Harriers 21 July 1894 AC
3 miles 15:54 Alexander Findlay (Ayr FC) Scottish Championship 28 June 1886 AC
3 miles 15:37 2/5 William Gabriel (Edinburgh Un.) Edinburgh Harriers 28 May 1887 AC
3 miles 15:32 4/5 David S. Duncan (Edinburgh H.) Edinburgh Harriers 19 July 1888 AC
3 miles 15:16 3/5 George Pollard (Edinburgh Un.) Edinburgh Harriers 14 June 1892 SN
3 miles 15:13 2/5 Andrew Hannah (Clydesdale H.) Edinburgh Harriers 9 June 1894 SN
3 miles 14:27 2/5 Fred Bacon (Ashton-under-Lyme H.) Edinburgh Northern Harriers 21 July 1894 AC
4 miles 21:16 3/5 William Gabriel (Edinburgh Un.) Edinburgh Harriers 29 May 1886 AC
4 miles 19:54 1/5 Sid Thomas (London AC) St Bernard's FC Sports 6 July 1893 AC
4 miles 20:40 Stewart Duffus (Arbroath H.) St Bernard's FC Sports 6 July 1893 SN
6 miles 32:12 Alexander Findlay (Ayr FC) Scottish AAA 10 mile Championship 28 June 1886 AC
6 miles 32:00 4/5 Andrew Hannah (Clydesdale H.) Scottish AAA 10 mile Championship 2 April 1894 SN/AC
10 miles 55:16 4/5 Alexander Findlay (Ayr FC) Scottish AAA 10 mile Championship 28 June 1886 AC
10 miles 54:02 3/5 Andrew Hannah (Clydesdale H.) Scottish AAA 10 mile Championship 2 April 1894 SN/AC
120yd H 16 3/5 Alexander McNeill (Fettes-Loretto) Scottish Championship 28 June 1884 AC
120yd H 16 1/5 Robert Stronach (Glasgow Academicals) Scottish Championship 25 June 1904 SN/AC
High jump 6 ft 0 1/2in (1.84m) R. G. Murray (West of Scotland H.) Scottish Chmapionship 25 June 1904 SN
Pole vault 11 ft 2 1/2in (3.41m) E. Latimer Stones (Ulverston AC) Scottish Championship 23 June 1888 AC
Long jump 22 ft 1in (6.73m) Hugh Barr (Edinburgh H.) Scottish Championship 27 June 1896 SN
Long jump 22 ft 3in (6.78m) Walter Newburn (Ireland) Scotland vs Ireland 17 July 1897 AC
Long jump 23 ft 2in (7.06m) Hugh Barr (Edinburgh H.) Scotland vs Ireland 15 July 1899 SN/AC
Long jump 23 ft 2 1/2in (7.07m) William Hunter (Edinburgh Un.) Scottish Championship 27 June 1914 SN
Shot putt 42 ft 8in (13.00m) Kenneth Whitton (St George's FC) Edinburgh Bicycle Club 6 June 1885 SN
Shot putt 43 ft 3in (13.18m) James MacIntosh (West End ARC) Scottish Championship 27 June 1896 SN
Shot putt 45 ft 10 1/2in (13.98m) Denis Horgan (Ireland) Scotland vs Ireland 15 July 1899 AC
Shot putt 45 ft 2in (13.76m) Tom Kirkwood (Liverpool Scottish Volunteers) Scottish Championship 23 June 1906 SN
Hammer (9 ft circle) 137 ft 1in (41.78m) Thomas Kiely (Ireland) Scotland vs Ireland 17 July 1897 AC
Hammer (9 ft circle) 141 ft 4in (43.08m) Thomas Kiely (Ireland) Scotland vs Ireland 15 July 1899 AC
Hammer (9 ft circle) 149 ft 4in (45.52m) Tom Nicolson (West of Scotland H.) Scotland vs Ireland 18 July 1903 SN/AC
Hammer (9 ft circle) 154 ft 1 3/4in (46.96m) Tom Nicolson (West of Scotland H.) Scottish Championship 25 June 1904 SN/AC
  • AC = Scottish All-comers Record
  • SN = Scottish Native Record (lived in Scotland for 3 months or more)

Other sports

[edit]

As well as athletics and walking races, from 1874 the Powderhall Grounds hosted cycle races, known at the time as velocipede races. There were also quoits handicaps and gun clubs held pigeon shooting competitions. In 1876 they started a medley event where competitors had to walk 1 mile, run 1 mile, and ride a horse 1 mile. The best time for this event was 16:22 by Peter McKellar of Edinburgh, well known locally as a champion walker. In April 1877 Jack Keen, a famous London cyclist, had a one-hour race against a team of horses. The horse rider changed horses six times and eventually beat the cyclist by five yards, covering 17 miles in 59:15. The next month, June 1877, Powderhall started a short-lived experiment with hosting trotting races. A special turf track was constructed outside the running path to accommodate the sulkies, and in the first meeting one of the jockeys broke his arm and another was thrown out of his carriage. After a few more mishaps the experiment was halted before anyone died. In August 1878 they presented a wire walking act and held their first dog races, promoted by the Midlothian Dog-Racing Club. The Scottish Cyclists Union was formed in 1880 and celebrated by holding their very first meet at Powderhall. They followed that with a six-day bicycle race held in Waverley Market and Powderhall put on a Grand Horse and Pony Leaping Competition to try and draw in the crowds. But one hundred thousand customers paid to watch the cycle races and the pony show was never repeated.

From 1881, association football began to be staged at Powderhall, and the stadium was the home ground for both Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian Football Clubs prior to Tynecastle Park and Easter Road respectively. In 1882 St Bernard's FC started playing at Powderhall, and both dog racing and cycle races were still regular features of the programme. After the change to the new venue in 1890 cycling continued to be popular, and in 1891 the Edinburgh Highland Society moved their annual Highland Games to Powderhall which included foot races, field events, highland dancing, bagpipe playing competitions and tug-of-war, and in 1898 they added a game of Camanachd, now better known as Shinty.[1]

Scotland have played two rugby union international matches at Powderhall. On Saturday 20 February 1897 Scotland beat Ireland 8-3 and on Saturday 12 March 1898 Scotland drew 3–3 with England.[11]

In 1920 boxing matches were introduced, commencing on Saturday 19 June with an afternoon of running events, 5-a-side football competition, and boxing exhibitions attended by over 13,000 spectators to raise funds for Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. This was repeated in June 1924 with similar success.[1]

Powderhall became the home ground of Leith Athletic from 1926 to 1928 and Edinburgh City from 1931 to 1934. It later became a venue for motorcycle speedway, with the Edinburgh Monarchs racing there from 1977 until 1995.

Greyhound racing

[edit]

Pre WWII history

[edit]

When opened in 1927, the track had easy bends and long straights and over 10,000 attended the first meeting. The first race, the Leith Stakes was won by Eager Hands in 30.70 over 500 yards. The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) acquired Powderhall becoming one of 19 GRA tracks at the time.

The kennels were built on the west side of the stadium replacing an old football ground[12] and the first trainers were John Snowball, Tom Storey, Arthur Graham, C Hughes and Tommy Johnston (Sr.).[13]

Major success was achieved in 1928 when Boher Ash trained by Tommy Johnston Sr. won the English Greyhound Derby, the first and only time a Scottish trained greyhound would win the sports premier event. The track situated below the 'Puddockie' as it was known locally (the Water of Leith) and a culvert ran under the track to allow the Puddockie to flow. The track circumference was 440 yards and facilities included a grandstand and two covered enclosures. The original hare was an outside 'bogie' and distances were 440, 500 and 700 yards but despite the culvert the track was prone to flooding. Edinburgh hosted four greyhound tracks, Stenhouse Stadium, Marine Gardens and a short lived independent track called Royal Gymnasium. The track introduced its own major event in 1933 and called it the Edinburgh Cup which saw early winners including Jesmond Cutlet, Wattle Bark and Dante II.[14]

Post war history

[edit]
Powderhall Stadium in Edinburgh c.1970

The venue was selected to host the Stewards Cup on several occasions and also hosted the BBC Television Trophy in 1964. In 1970 the stadium underwent renovation including a new 100 'Silver Hound' seated restaurant with a glass plated front to allow public viewing and bar areas increased to a total of seven. Bill Glennie was General Manager and Bill Mulley was Racing Manager replaced by Stuart Strachan in 1978 A heated blanket was constructed underneath the track to combat the Scottish winter and allow racing to go ahead during particularly cold spells.[15]

The Scottish Grand National and Scottish St Leger both became popular events and in 1982 trainer Graham Mann was moved by the GRA to White City and his replacement was Jane Glass, the Scottish tracks first ever female trainer. Powderhall marked its 60th anniversary with a new £400,000 grandstand and in 1987 the track was handed the Scottish Greyhound Derby by the GRA (following problems at Shawfield), the first time the event was run outside of Glasgow.[16][17]

After hosting the 1988 Scottish Derby the GRA sold the track to local businessman Norrie Rowan for £1.8m, the sale of the track resulted in two problems, the first was the fact that they lost the rights to hold the Scottish Derby because the GRA no longer had any investments in Scotland so the Derby returned to Glasgow. Secondly Norrie Rowan sold the track on to Coral for £2.2 million an instant profit of £400,000.[18] During 1990 Rowan expressed the desire to buy the stadium back.[19]

The locally trained Ravage Again nearly surpassed the Ballyregan Bob world record in 1990; trained by Willie Frew the 29 successive wins sequence came to an end on 26 January 1990.

Closure

[edit]

Corals sold the stadium to Eddie Ramsay in 1992 for £3 million but his company SGRC (Scottish Greyhound Racing Company) was in financial difficulties and he sold it to a Channel Islands company called Charlotte Twenty-One (that included a shareholder called Walton Hankinson, a housing development specialist) during January 1995 for £3 million.[20][21] The stadium closed in 1995 [22] and was demolished for housing.

Competitions

[edit]

Scottish Greyhound Derby

[edit]

Edinburgh Cup

[edit]

Scottish Grand National

[edit]

The Scottish Grand National was a competition held over hurdles from 1954 until the stadium closed.[23]

Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time SP
1954 Ruddy Caution Bahs Choice – Pure Motive Paddy McEvoy (Private) 28.95 7-2
1955 Prince Lawrence Dangerous Prince - Knights Romance Joe Pickering (New Cross) 29.24 5-1
1957 Fodda Champion Champion Prince - Wimble Lady Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 29.04 1-3f
1958 Fodda Champion Champion Prince - Wimble Lady Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 28.74
1959 Rialto Crown Imperial Dancer – Quare Princess Tom Lightfoot (White City) 29.72 10-1
1960 Dawn Dancer Prince of Bermuda – Peaceful Dancer Cyril Beaumont (Belle Vue) 29.18 4-9f
1961 Rorys Pleasure Man of Pleasure – Banri Ordha Joe Pickering (White City) 28.86
1962 Barrel Kissane Champion Prince - Yoblstrap Barney O'Connor (Walthamstow) 29.11
1963 Ascot Carrickaroche Champion – Ash Look Charlie Smoothy (New Cross) 29.32
1964 Banba's Son Champions Son – Darkies Delight Clare Orton (Wimbledon) 29.42
1965 Bolshoi Prince The Grand Prince – Bolshoi Artiste Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 29.26
1966 Halfpenny King Crazy Parachute - The Baw Wee John Shevlin (New Cross) 29.15
1967 Cross Champ The Grand Prince - Anabanana Alf Eggleston (Leeds) 29.43
1968 Ballintore Tiger Prairie Flash – Not Landing Tim Forster (Harringay) 29.22
1969 Tonys Friend Tontine – Maggie From Cork Randy Singleton (White City) 29.68 4-7f
1970 Derry Palm O'Leary – Fannie Caesar Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) 29.17 8-1
1974 Weston Pete Monalee Champion – New Kashmir Colin West (White City) 29.29 2-1
1975 Shamrock Blackie Patricias Hope – Shanlyre Blackie Tommy Foster (White City) 29.77 33-1
1976 Try It Blackie Russian Gun – Gurteen Daisy Frank Melville Harringay) 29.60 2-1jf
1977 Greenane Tyro Monalee Champion – Fit Me In Randy Singleton (White City) 29.01 3-1
1978 Topofthetide Westpark Mint – Lady In Love Tim Forster Harringay) 29.29 4-9f
1979 Scintillas Rock Yanka Boy – Scintillas Mini Frank Melville Harringay) 29.47 4-1
1980 Drakeland Jim Currans Pad – Arctic Ann Tommy Foster (White City) 29.21 6-4f
1981 1981 Bobcol Westpark Mint – Black Katty Norah McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 29.35 4-5f
1982 Face The Mutt Mutts Silver – Millroad Cast Reece (Middlesbrough) 28.99 1-3f
1983 Face The Lads Luminous Lad – Mill Road Silver Norah McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 29.00 9-2
1984 Lovely Pud I'm Lovely – Lucky Una G Rodgerson (Powderhall) 28.77 6-1
1985 Brendas Luck Black Coat – Brendas Dream Ron Bicknell (Milton Keynes) 28.99 5-1
1986 Moneypoint Sam Liberty Lad – Queens Hotel Bob Young (Brighton) 28.77 10-1
1987 Cavan Town Sail On II – Leafy Glade Mel Cumner (Maidstone) 28.68 TR 8-13f
1988 Kilcuala Prince Dipmac – Hack Up Hostess J.J Keane (Private) 29.28 3-1
1989 Skyline Prince Shesign Rocket – Apache Laura Linda Mullins (Romford) 28.65 7-2
1990 Gizmo Pasha Whisper Wishes – If And When Linda Mullins (Romford) 28.69 1-2f
1991 Deerpark Jim Oran Jack – Saol Fada Sally Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 28.79 6-1
1992 Kildare Slippy I'm Slippy – Kildare Elm Paddy Hancox (Hall Green) 28.09 1-4f
1993 Last Years Man Murlens Slippy – Junior Miss Tommy Foster (Wimbledon) 28.71 4-1
1994 Heavenly Dream Whisper Wishes – Sail On Jenny Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 28.46 15-8jf

TR (Track record), 1954-1994 (500 yards, 465 metres), 1971-1973 (Not held)

Scottish St Leger

[edit]

The Scottish St Leger was a competition held from 1959 until the stadium closed.[23]

Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time SP
1959 Greenane Airlines Imperial Airways – Take Astra Jim Irving (Private) 39.94
1960 My Farewell Demon King – Flirting Girl Jack Tallantire (Powderhall) 41.16
1961 Desert Rambler Champion Prince – Imperial Peg Joe Booth (Private) 40.27
1962 Ballymurn Prince Solar Prince – July Flower Austin Hiscock (Belle Vue) 40.55
1963 Strelka War Dance – Imperial Astra Jim Irving (Private) 40.47
1964 Lucky Hi There Hi There - Olives Bonny Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 39.28
1965 Feakles Wish Feakles Luck – Oxgrove Dinkie George Carrigill (Private) 40.95
1966 Caledonian Peg Prairie Flash – Caledonian Penny George Carrigill (Private) 40.63
1967 Negro Harpist Oregon Prince - Imperial Astra Jim Irving (Private) 40.42
1968 Forward King Crazy Parachute – Supreme Witch Ted Brennan (Sheffield) 39.94 11-10f
1969 Greenane Gem Prairie Flash – Sheila At Last Bessie Lewis (Private) 40.28 9-4
1970 Peace Blue Boy Tric Trac – Peace Rose Stan Mitchell (Belle Vue) 40.60 10-1
1971 Knock Off Aristos – Last Pot Harry Bamford (Belle Vue) 39.91 4-5f
1972 Ramdeen Stuart Sallys Story – Any Streak Norman Oliver (Brough Park) 40.19 1-2f
1973 Moylisha Silver Hope – Last Pot Harry Bamford (Belle Vue) 40.40 8-1
1974 Prince Wong Supreme Fun – Irene Wong Janet Tite (Private) 40.87 4-1
1975 Suffer On Cobbler – No Tour Rita Hayward (Norton Canes) 40.64 9-4
1976 Cooladine Game Red Game – Flashy Minnie Peter Harding (Powderhall) 40.84 6-1
1977 Paradise Spectre Spectre – Paradise Wonder Pat Mullins (Private) 40.20 1-3f
1978 Colums Corner Blessington Boy – Kilnagleary Gift John Gibbons (Rochester) 40.24 4-7f
1979 Luque Itsachampion – Strawberry Pearl Pete Beaumont (Leeds) 40.49 5-1
1980 Navigator Super Jim – Pilgrims Blow Pete Beaumont (Leeds) 40.69 20-1
1981 Rath Hero Brother Orchid – Lady of Love Gordon Bailey (Yarmouth) 40.70 20-1
1984 Willow Lass Yellow Band – Brindle Betty Stewart Loan (Shawfield) 40.41 10-1
1985 My Tootsie Tough Decision – Jeffs Love Stewart Loan (Shawfield) 40.54 5-1
1986 Shandon Tiger Gambling Fever – Shandon Kitten Bryce Wilson (Powderhall) 40.58 4-9f
1987 Clifton Hill Ardralla Victory - Queensbury Stewart Loan (Powderhall) 41.65 20-1
1990 Flicka Dubh Ballylarkin Star – Idle Kate Dave Hopper (Sheffield) 41.44 12-1
1991 Time For One Green Gorse - Elevenses Michael Power (Yarmouth) 40.33 11-4f
1992 Princeton Blue Shanagarry Duke – Princeton House Dave Conway (Private) 40.39 7-2
1993 Greenwell Kit Lavally Oak – Cahills Gate John Flaherty (Shawfield) 39.95 TR 4-6f
1994 Droopys Evelyn[24] Game Ball – Moral Support Harry Williams (Sunderland) 39.90 6-1

TR (Track record), 1954-1994 (700 yards, 650 metres), 1982-1983 (Not held)

Track records

[edit]

Pre Metric record

[edit]
Distance
(yards)
Greyhound Time Date Notes
400 Houghton Spur 24.77 17.08.1968
440 Telepathy 25.38 05.08.1931
440 Gold Deposit 25.14 1948
440 Hellcat Spartan 25.06 15.04.1957
500 Jesmond Cutlet 28.20 20.09.1937
500 Kildrid Hero 28.20 1948
500 Just Fame 27.97 27.08.1958
500 Pigalle Wonder =27.97 30.04.1958 TV Trophy heats
500 Shady Pagoda 27.85 17.08.1968
500 Say Little 27.80 1972
525 Telepathy 30.40 13.07.1931
625 Magic Knight 23.05.1966
625 Outcast Mad 35.60 16.09.1967
700 Robins Reward 41.15 12.08.1933
700 Don Gipsey 41.05 1947
700 Greenane Airlines 40.42 04.07.1959
700 Lucky Hi There 39.96 11.07.1964
700 Booked Six 39.84 03.07.1969 Scottish St Leger heats
880 Jersey Beauty 52.50 15.08.1936
880 Greenane Airlines 51.75 19.09.1959
880 Boothroyden Larry 51.29 19.09.1964
880 Poor Mick 50.84 18.09.1967
940 Grimsby Coastguard 57.25 14.05.1955
940 April Event 56.12 19.09.1966
260 H Molly Munro 15.50 23.09.1933
500 H Rich Cream 29.33 30.07.1938
500 H Fodda Champion 28.87 07.05.1958
500 H Rorys Pleasure 28.64 03.05.1961
700 H Dawn Dancer 42.08 17.07.1961
Chase Cleos Nephew 29.69 09.05.1959

Post Metric records

[edit]
Distance
(metres)
Greyhound Time Date Notes
241 Bray Vale 14.41 30.08.1979
241 Echo Spark 14.28 28.08.1982
241 Briarhill Dawn 14.55+ 08.08.1987
241 Yes Super 14.54 03.09.1994
416 Falcons Astor 25.80 28.06.1975
465 Tory Mor 27.67 23.08.1975 Edinburgh Cup Final
465 Princes Pal 27.63 29.08.1987
465 Toms Lodge 27.53 08.1993
650 Suffer On 40.49 26.06.1975
650 Paradise Spectre 40.09 22.09.1977 Scottish St Leger heats
650 Ballyregan Bob 39.60 26.04.1986
650 Carrigeen Bree 40.25+ 02.05.1987
650 Greenwell Kit 39.95 27.03.1993 Scottish St Leger Final
650 Droopys Evelyn 39.54 1993
824 Portland Dusty 52.23 29.10.1979
824 Jos Gamble 51.98 22.10.1983
824 Role of Fame 52.46+ 19.10.1987
824 Manx Jet 52.09 1989
824 Easy Bimbo 51.43 05.10.1991 Scottish Marathon Final
465 H Anns Chancer 28.96 19.07.1980
465 H Cavan Town 28.68 02.05.1987 Scottish Grand National Final
465 H Skyline Prince 28.63 06.05.1989
465 H Kildare Slippy 28.29 1992

+ track alterations

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Powderhall & Pedestrianism (1943) David A. Jamieson
  2. ^ "Dundee Advertiser", Tue 21 Mar 1871 p. 7
  3. ^ "Bell's Life", Sat 24 Feb 1872 p. 8
  4. ^ [1] - Scottish Athletics Record Book
  5. ^ "Sporting Gazette", Sat 30 Jun 1883 p. 27
  6. ^ "The Scotsman", Sat 21 Jun 1884 p. 1
  7. ^ "Field", Sat 3 Jul 1886 p. 47
  8. ^ "Daily Mirror", Mon 27 Jun 1910 p. 14
  9. ^ The Flying Scotsman: The Eric Liddell Story, Sally Magnusson (1981) p. 28-9
  10. ^ Fotheringham, William (2006). Fotheringham's Extraordinary Sporting Pastimes. Robson Books Ltd. p. 87. ISBN 1-861059-53-1.
  11. ^ Scotland | National Rugby Ground (extract from SRU) | Inverleith: the first purpose-built international rugby ground, RugbyFootballHistory.com; Retrieved 7 November 2021
  12. ^ "OS County Series Edinburghshire 1931". old-maps.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Greyhounds' fast times". Daily Record. 2 August 1927. Retrieved 17 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). p. 97. ISBN 0-85020-0474.
  15. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. pp. 65–67. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  16. ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. pp. 27–28. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  17. ^ "Remember When July". Greyhound Star.
  18. ^ Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. pp. 84–86. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
  19. ^ "Remember When series (March 2020)". Greyhound Star.
  20. ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 237–238. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  21. ^ "Speedway Special". Daily Record. 6 October 1995. Retrieved 21 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "Remember When - March". Greyhound Star.
  23. ^ a b Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 28. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  24. ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 112–114. ISBN 186054-010-4.
[edit]

55°58′02″N 3°11′38″W / 55.9672°N 3.1938°W / 55.9672; -3.1938